UPDATE: Imperial Man Killed Girlfriend with Hammer

JEFFERSON COUNTY (KMOX) – An Imperial man has been charged in what investigators believe was the drug-related beating death of a 24-year-old Pevely woman.

Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer says Brian Smith, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his girlfriend, Heather Beckley-Lewis.

“During the course of the investigation, it was determined that just about all of our individuals were involved in some sort of narcotics, predominantly methamphetamine,” Boyer said.

Court documents say a man who showed the couple to the woods, where they had planned to make meth, told police he later saw Smith with blood on his face. He said Smith told him he hit Beckley six times with a hammer.

Police have not disclosed a possible motive.

Beckley-Lewis’ body was found Sunday morning in the woods near Butler Valley Drive and Antonia Valley Court.